Quantum Computer Simulation of Chemistry and Materials: Advances and Perspectives

Physics Colloquium 5th February 2016 delivered by Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik Quantum computers promise the numerically exact simulation of molecules and materials. Furthermore, they are amongst the algorithms that have the lowest resource requirements for surpassing the power of classical computers. In this talk, I will briefly introduce the basic concepts of quantum computing and quantum simulation. Then, I will review the recent rapid progress in developing more efficient algorithms that have been achieved by many researchers in the field including our research group. I will describe the families of available algorithms (phase estimation, adiabatic and variational quantum eigensolver approaches) as well as the status of several experimental implementations of them either carried out or underway. These implementations span most of the currently available quantum architectures including quantum optics, ion traps, NV centers and superconducting quantum bits. I will provide a prelude of the relevance of these applications to society and will conclude with the prospects of the field.

Om Podcasten

The Department of Physics public lecture series. An exciting series of lectures about the research at Oxford Physics take place throughout the academic year. Looking at topics diverse as the creation of the universe to the science of climate change. Features episodes previously published as: (1) 'Oxford Physics Alumni': "Informal interviews with physics alumni at events, lectures and other alumni related activities." (2) 'Physics and Philosophy: Arguments, Experiments and a Few Things in Between': "A series which explores some of the links between physics and philosophy, two of the most fundamental ways with which we try to answer our questions about the world around us. A number of the most pertinent topics which bridge the disciplines are discussed - the nature of space and time, the unpredictable results of quantum mechanics and their surprising consequences and perhaps most fundamentally, the nature of the mind and how far science can go towards explaining and understanding it. Featuring interviews with Dr. Christopher Palmer, Prof. Frank Arntzenius, Prof. Vlatko Vedral, Dr. David Wallace and Prof. Roger Penrose."